08:20 A.M. February 4, 4086 A.D.

The Azure Sky

Alcee Salva

The sky was peaceful as the car glided through the azure atmosphere. The birds, blue in color, flew in formations, as they flapped their wings elegantly like mighty eagles. Looking below, Alcee saw the houses lined in a dot. He could even see the glass dome clearly: a sapphire-like crystal extending over the horizon. The artificial sun hovered in the firmament, blazing like a ball of yellow flame.

Alcee sighed, he couldn't enjoy the scene even though it was a perfect moment for sight-seeing. They were all silent throughout the trip. The only sound they heard was the radio playing some old-school music. He was not entirely sure of what they were thinking, but he knew it was related to the tests and the earlier fiasco. Such a nice bird, wonder where did it go? Looking at the front mirror, he saw Tori's reflection fiddling with her white hair. He smiled and broke their silence with a loud cough.

"Huh, are you okay, Alcee? Don't tell me that your stomach's acting up again?" Tori asked with a concerned look on her face. Biting her lips, she took out a red pill from her pocket. "Here, take this pill. Mom made sure to give it to you, considering you took a potent poison."

"No, I'm okay, Sis." Alcee reassured her as he took the red pill from her hand. "Thanks anyway, I appreciate it."

"The pleasure is mine."

Troy steered the driver's wheel as he turned off the radio speakers. "You should have listened to me, dear Tori. Look, your brother's sick. He should have stayed at the back, and you should be here with me at the front seat."

"And how could me sitting at the front help alleviate his situation?" Tori asked, shaking her head. "Well, I knew you too well, pervert. If not for my brother, I would have just commuted towards the Exam Lodge."

"Preach it, Sistah!" Ken guffawed at her remark, giving her a thumbs-up sign. He then slightly tilted his body towards the front, and coquettishly whispered at Troy's ear. "You could have just asked me. I would gladly even sit on your lap."

The car suddenly zoomed forward as Troy accidentally stomped on the accelerator. He calmed himself and glimpsed at the back. "You want us to die?! You know very well that I'm ticklish, especially my ears!"

Alcee and Tori were laughing their heads off while Ken just sat there silently. "I didn't know that but at least I've gained valuable information about you." He simpered as he winked at Troy.

Troy shook his head and sigh. "Well, anyway, we're almost at the Lodge. I wonder what's the test about."

"I don't know. Not that I care, anyway." Alcee was not really concerned about the test. Worker or soldier, it didn't matter to him. All he wanted was to get this over with.

Looking at the gargantuan building in front of them, Alcee nodded his head in approval. The roof glimmered like a gemstone, and the walls were like diamonds. He was pleasantly surprised, it was his first time seeing such a magnificent edifice!

"Okay, ready yourself, guys. I'm gonna land." Troy pressed on the decelerator as he adjusted the steering wheel.

Alcee relaxed his body and calmed his mind, dissolving any worrying thoughts he had when suddenly he heard a loud buzzing sound as if surrounding him. He opened his eyes, but what he saw made him wide-eyed in surprise: he was now in a black pitch void. He couldn't see anything: his friends, the car, even the outside world disappeared in a flash!

Where the hell am I?

"TORI!"

"TROY!"

"KEN!”

Alcee forced his body to move but he couldn't. Scared and helpless, he shifted his gaze around the void hoping he'd see any clue that might help him escape the place. He was getting desperate when all of a sudden, a boomy voice penetrated the eerie silence.

"Rhe oda! Zhil norh! Rhe oda!"

"Fengzhi siansi aqui Minerva!"

Frowning, his heart began to palpitate as his mind throbbed, as if trying to recall something.

Why do I feel nostalgic? Why is the voice seem so foreign yet so...familiar?

08:45 A.M. February 4, 4086 A.D.

The Parking Lot

Tori Henna

The car descended on the busy lot: vehicles of different colors parked near with each other, forming like a snake trail. The place was swamped with automobiles, people and freights. Crowds of people moved towards the glowing portal in a straight line while signal lights flickered as the gates were opened to let the cargoes in.

Tori was amazed at the things she saw, overwhelming her. She was a true country bumpkin and seeing such things made her heartbeat go pit-a-pat. She gaped at the place, her eyes glinted as she hopped up and down.

"Wow, this place sure is huge," she exclaimed, as she collected her Electobag inside the glove compartment. She shifted her gaze from the trail to the portal and pouted her red lips. She never knew that a parking lot could be so complex, even a thousand houses could fit inside. "Do you think all these people are here for the test?"

"Maybe Sistah, but please dear God, I hope I'll turn out be a worker, not a soldier," Ken muttered, his brows knitted in a furrow. He opened his Electobag, took out a blue pill, and popped it in his mouth. "My body's made for love, Sistah, not for war."

Tori giggled as she tied her long, white hair to a ponytail. She knew that out of all her friends, she believed that Ken was the most qualified to be a soldier. Ken had a rock-like and burly body, yet he stood with a straight posture. His stature, aura, and pale complexion made him look like that of a noble, standing tall and mighty. If she had not known who Ken really was, she could have mistaken him for a royal prince or something related.

"Hey, brother, come out here! What's taking you so long, anyway?" She heard no reply. Puzzled, she walked towards the front car and peeked inside, and what she saw made her body trembled: Alcee was pale and huffing, as if out of breath, as tears streamed in his closed eyes.

"Alcee, what's happening to you, Alcee!" Tori was worried as she shook his body strongly, trying to wake him up. "Oh God, wake up! Ken, help me! Something happened to my brother!"

Ken sprinted towards her and arrived at the front seat. "What happened, Sistah? My God, what's with him? Where's Troy anyway?!"

Tori began to bawl like a child, her tears continued to flow down her eyes. She was getting scared and restless. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and her voice quivered. "Please! Wake up! “Ken, please look for Troy. Mom had always taught him medicine, he might have learned a thing or two about it."

Ken nodded and dashed towards the parking booth.

Tori's mind was now in chaos: she didn't know what do to help her beloved. Slapping his face, punching his abdomen, shaking his body, even pinching his cheeks - she tried it all but to no avail.

"Oh no, the poison's acting up again? Please, Alcee, damn you, wake up! Please, please, please."

"What's taking them so long, anyway? Where are they?"

"Please don't die Alcee. Please don't leave me. I need you."

"Tori, what happened," a raspy voice asked her in a frantic manner. She turned her gaze and saw Troy running towards her direction. "I came here right away as soon as I've heard what happened.

"I don't know! I thought he was just meditating." Tori wiped the tears on her face as she controlled her emotions. "Where's Ken?"

"I told him to look for help. He's at the attendant's office right now. Well, let me check on him."

She nodded and stepped back. Troy grabbed Alcee's right arm and checked his pulse. He opened his closed eyes and felt his body temperature, and his brows knitted in a furrow. "Tori, come. Tell me exactly what happened earlier."

She explained everything she could remember, careful as not to miss out any detail. Troy was rubbing his chin - as if contemplating something - the entire time. He sighed and looked at his friend with a worried glance. "His heartbeat is erratic, and his pupils dilated. He is cold to touch as if he was dead, and he is sweating badly. It seems that his body is in a state of shock."

"What?!"

"Well, I'm not really sure. It's just that - “

Troy was not able to continue what he was about to say. He stood like a statue. Tori was confused at his actions and followed his gaze. Then, it was her turn to be surprised: Alcee was now covered with a hazy purple light!

She was anxious; she never saw these things happened to his brother. Suddenly, she felt stabbing pain inside her head, as if it was about to crack. A flash of light appeared before her, almost real like a hologram. Her knees gave way, and she stumbled on the floor.

A demon?!

____________________________________________________________________________

08:55 A.M. February 4, 4086 A.D.

The Parking Lot

Troy Jenner

Troy was goggle-eyed, his body sweating profusely as he covered his mouth in astonishment. He couldn't believe the things he was seeing: Alcee was covered in a hazy purple light, just like the color of a bale, deadly aura.

Dear God. What's happening with Alcee?

Troy closed his eyes and calmed his mind, trying to assess the situation and if possible, solve their current predicament. He had heard from Matron that only Mythicales exhibit such a deathly aura, and a doubt feeling crept inside his heart. Alcee was human, he was sure of it. He never even saw anything strange about him for the past 15 years. But if, for some strange reasons, Alcee turned out to be a Mythicales, then he knew his friend's life was in grave danger. Androids needed their blood to make weapons. He couldn't let anyone see his friend's condition right now. In the test, he would definitely be exposed!

No, I must protect my friend. He is my friend.

I may be a big pervert but I'll never let any of my friends be harmed.

Troy saw a young male android, dressed in black military garb, drawing closer to where they were. Oh no. Someone’s coming. Better move fast. He never faced such a mind-boggling situation in the past, but this is a no-brainer for him: his friend's life is a top priority. He strode down the path, took out a white chip from his Electobag, and gently put it in his friend's hands. He hoped that every single thing he had done was obscured from the visitor's sight.

Please stay safe.

He crushed the chip, and Alcee was engulfed in a white light. He vanished just in time when the soldier arrived.

The young military turned his head as if looking for something. Ken twitched his eyebrows, nervous that he might have seen his friend's earlier condition.

"Are you taking the exam?"

"Yes, Sir," Troy replied hastily. With an imposing aura, the lieutenant gazed at him as if checking on something. Troy sensed that this man should not be offended, and carefully inquired, "May I know your name, Sir."

"It's Lieutenant Kendrick for you. What’s your name? Are you the only ones taking the exam?"

Ken was surprised to meet a high ranking official in the park. What's he doing in here? He couldn't have just come here with no reasons, right? He was uncertain if the lieutenant had seen what happened earlier. If he just brazenly lied about it, the lieutenant might get offended. Nevertheless, he had no intention of exposing his friend's whereabouts. With a stern look, he replied, "It’s Troy Jenner, sir. And yes, sir."

"Why is she acting like that?"

Troy saw a trembling Tori still sprawled on the ground. What happened to my Tori. I forgot about her at all. He didn’t know what to say. Suddenly, he just blurted out the first thing that came into his mind. "She's just nervous, Sir. Don't worry, she's fuck - err - I mean okay."

"If you say so." Lieutenant Kendrick motioned his hand towards Troy and smiled. "Come with me then. You don't wanna be late for the exam now, do you?"

"Yes sir."

Troy knew he had to tell his mom about his brother's situation. He gathered his courage and spoke, "but could I make a call first? I'd forgot to tell my mom that I won't be joining them for dinner."

Lieutenant Kendrick stopped walking and paused for a moment, as if recollecting his thoughts. After a few moments, he spoke with a gentle voice, "Okay, but hurry up. I'd be waiting for you at the shed."

Troy sighed in relief. He wanted to comfort Tori but he knew he had to prioritized his friend, since he could be in danger. Making sure that the lieutenant was far away, he grabbed his phone from his electopocket and dialed. After a few seconds, a feminine voice suddenly took the call, and said: "Hello, who is this?"

"Mom?"